Photonics research in the ORC achieves top REF power ranking

Published: 12 December 2014

The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) was returned through Electronic and Electrical Engineering (EEE), which ranked first in the UK based on its volume of high quality research in the 2014 REF (Research Excellence Framework).

95% of the research outputs submitted by Southampton in EEE were rated as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).

The REF assesses the quality of research outputs, the impact they have achieved outside of academia, and the research environment. The results will be used to allocate almost £2bn of research funding per year to UK universities from 2015-16.

Professor Sir David Payne said, “It is very pleasing to see that the REF panel has recognised the strength of the ORC and its contribution to UK photonics. An important factor in this success has been the sustained funding the ORC has enjoyed from the EPSRC.”

The full results will be published by HEFCE on the REF website in February 2015.